Our Catliolic Heritage in T e:xas
all nath·es were fickle. It would be best to ascertain their real attitude towards the contemplated mission by sending Father Vallejo with an escort to Yisit them. He could at the same time investigate the claims advanced for a new mission location on a spring about five leagues west of the old site. It was claime.d that the spring, near the Trinity, would provide sufficient water for irrigation, and that the forests in the vicinity would afford the timber necessary for the construction of the church and other mission buildings. Taking up the question of equipping the proposed mission, Elguezabal recollected that a similar plan had been proposed before, and that the sacred vessels and furnishings provided at that time were at Refugio. These articles could now be used for the reestablishment of Orcoquisac Mission. At any rate, the property of Mission Valero, with the exception of a few pieces lent to the parish church of San Fernando, was still stored in a government warehouse. What perplexed the governor was the offer made by Father Delgadillo to furnish the mission with all the necessary equipment, besides 2,000 sheep, and 400 cows. The young friar was not known to possess the independent means to make good so liberal an offer. The governor warned that, while alms and donations for the conversion of the natives might be counted upon, they should not be relied on too much. He let it be known that he realized that the royal treasury would have to defray most of the expense in reestablishing the mission and maintaining it during the first year or two, or until the congregated Indians could become self-supporting. The governor recommended that an adequate military guard be pro- vided to protect the mission as well as to keep an effective watch on the coast. The missionary who was to take charge of the enterprise should be an experienced, patient, and virtuous man. He hinted broadly that Father Delgadillo, because of his youth, inexperience, and lack of judg- ment, did not meet these requirements. 35 In September Salcedo wrote that he agreed with the governor and the missionary that the abandoned site of the presidio should be reoccupied, and perhaps a mission and military post reestablished; but in view of the contemplated change in the organization and administration of the Eastern Interior Provinces outlined in a recent order of the king, he deemed it advisable to suspend action and to refer the matter to his successor. He approved the orders issued to the commander of Nacog-
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55 Elguezabal to Salcedo, August 15, 1804, draft No. 276, Quaderno Borrador, January 4-Vecember 19, 1804. Be:i:ar Al'cliives.
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